After 15 years of serving as a dutiful assistant coach, Jason Luciani finally gets his chance to be a head coach, taking over for Jim Matsakis, who moved on to West Orange.

“I had the chance to work with four great head coacookhes in my career,” said Luciani, whose father, Garry, was the head coach at three schools, including Mount Olive last year and will be with Jason as an assistant this season. “I’ve put in the time and have had some great experience, but I feel like I’m ready. And I feel good about the way we’re headed with this team.”

Gone is the state’s leading passer in Chris Heredia, but the Bulldogs have a more than capable replacement in senior Glenn Reger.

“Chris was a very good quarterback, but Glenn’s pretty good as well,” Luciani said. “He’s big and strong, so he’s a little different than Chris. But he can throw the ball very well.”

The Bulldogs will use a “running back-by-committee” approach, but junior returning starter Ryan Cirillo will be among the featured runners. Cirillo started a lot last year as a sophomore. Travis Canty is a senior who can line up all over the field.

“Travis has tremendous leaping ability and good hands,” Luciani said. “He’s also elusive. We’re going to get him the ball.”

Sophomore Dan Castiglia has also been in the mix at running back.

“We’re breaking him in and bringing him along,” Luciani said. “He has good potential.”

Receiver Nick Ballistreri returns.

“He’s good in the slot and has good hands,” Luciani said.

Luciani is high on junior tight end Robert Centinano.

“He was a lineman his whole life, but it turned out he was one of our fastest kids, so we moved him to tight end,” Luciani said. “He has big hands and catches well. I feel good where he’s at.”

Senior Darren Russo was a starter at guard last year, but he’s been moved to tackle this season. Senior Steve Golda is another returning starter along the line at guard. Ryan Mack, a senior, has been a three-year starter at center.

“We’re trying to get more of a vertical push along the line and I think we have the group who can do that,” Luciani said.

Defensively, the Bulldogs lost a lot from last year, but will count on Reger to do a lot of work at outside linebacker, where he started last season.

“I feel he’s too important there to keep off the field,” Luciani said. “Besides, he plays quarterback like a linebacker.”

Tanner Barnett, a junior, has been promising at defensive end. Canty is a key player at cornerback.

“I feel good with where we’re going as a team,” Luciani said. “I get up every day and realize how lucky I am to coach this team. I have a good coaching staff. The kids have responded well. The kids all like each other and respond to each other. We’re going to compete for a conference title and a sectional title. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Butler.”